Salvia plant named ‘BBSAL09001’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named ‘BBSAL09001’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; strong dark purple-colored lateral branches; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; upright inflorescences with dark violet-colored flowers with dark violet blue-colored sepals; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Salvia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBSAL09001’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Salviaplant, botanically known as Salvia hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘BBSAL09001’.

The new Salvia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new uniform Salvia plants with attractiveleaves and flowers.

The new Salvia plant originated from a cross-pollination of aproprietary selection of Salvia hybrida identified as code number14SJ001-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Salvia hybrida identified as code number13SALB040-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent on Oct. 13,2014. The new Salvia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall,Calif. on Dec. 29, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Salvia plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in Bonsall, Calif., since Jan. 14, 2015 has shown that theunique features of this new Salvia plant are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Salvia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BBSAL09001’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BBSAL09001’ as a new and distinct Salvia plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Strong dark purple-colored lateral branches.    -   5. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   6. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   7. Upright inflorescences with dark violet-colored flowers with        dark violet blue-colored sepals.    -   8. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Salvia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Salvia differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia are more freely branching and denser        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Salvia have stronger and sturdier lateral        branches than plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Salvia have longer flowers than plants of        the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Salvia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Salvia differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia are more compact than plants of the        male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Salvia and the male parent selection differ        in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have pale        blue-colored flowers.    -   3. Plants of the new Salvia flower for a longer period of time        than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Salvia can be compared to plants of Salvia hybrida‘Amistad’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,578. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Salvia differ from plants of ‘Amistad’ inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia are more compact and upright in        plant habit than plants of ‘Amistad’.    -   2. Plants of the new Salvia are more freely branching and denser        than plants of ‘Amistad’.    -   3. Plants of the new Salvia have stronger and sturdier lateral        branches than plants of ‘Amistad’.    -   4. Plants of the new Salvia have darker green-colored leaves        than plants of ‘Amistad’.

Plants of the new Salvia can also be compared to plants of Salviaguaranitica ‘Black and Blue’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Salvia differ from plants of ‘Black and Blue’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia are more freely branching and denser        than plants of ‘Black and Blue’.    -   2. Plants of the new Salvia flower earlier than plants of ‘Black        and Blue’.    -   3. Plants of the new Salvia and ‘Black and Blue’ differ in        flower color as plants of ‘Black and Blue’ have blue-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Salvia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Salvia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘BBSAL09001’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘BBSAL09001’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the early spring in 11.5-cmcontainers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and undercultural practices typical of commercial Salvia production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 27° C. Plants were twelve weeks from planting rooted cuttings whenthe photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia hybrida ‘BBSAL09001’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Salvia            hybrida identified as code number 14SJ001-01, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Salvia            hybrida identified as code number 13SALB050-01, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four to five days at            temperatures about 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven to nine days at            temperatures about 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three to            four weeks at temperatures about 17° C. to 29° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four to            five weeks at temperatures about 17° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial typically grown            as a container and garden plant; upright plant habit;            uniform and moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit;            rapid growth rate.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching with about six            primary lateral branches per plant; dense appearance.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 20            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 31            cm.        -   Plant width.—About 36 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 22 cm. Diameter:            About 6 mm. Internode length: About 4.5 cm to 5 cm.            Strength: Strong and sturdy. Aspect: Mostly upright to about            45° to 60° from vertical. Texture and luster: Pubescent;            matte. Color, developing: Close to 146A to 146B. Color,            developed: Close to N187A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 7.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly lanceolate to nearly deltoid.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Fine pubescence, slightly            rough; slightly glossy.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Fine pubescence, somewhat coarse;            matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            144A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A;            venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 147C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 4.3 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Minute pubescence; matte. Color, upper surface:            Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single bilabiate flowers            arranged on erect terminal and axillary racemes; freely            flowering habit with about 95 flowers developing per            inflorescence and more than 850 flowers developing per plant            during the flowering season; flowers face upward to mostly            outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants            begin flowering about six weeks after planting; plants            flower from spring until frost in an outdoor nursery in            Michigan.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about four to five days on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.4 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Shape: Elongate. Texture and luster: Minute scattered            pubescence; matte. Color: Close to N92C.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 16 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Flower length.—About 3 mm by 5 mm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 3 mm by 5 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals with two upper petals fused            forming a galea and three lower petals fused forming a            broader lower protruding lip. Upper galea length: About            2 cm. Upper galea width: About 5 mm. Lower lip length: About            1.4 cm. Lower lip width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Upper galea,            hooded; lower lip, rounded. Apex: Round. Base: Fused into a            narrow tube. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Minute pubescence; slightly glossy. Texture and            luster, throat: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster,            tube: Sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 83A. When opening, lower            surface: Close to N92B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 83A to 83B; venation, close to 83A; color does not fade            with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 86A;            venation, close to 86A; color does not fade with            development. Throat: Close to 86C; venation, close to 86C.            Tube: Close to 83A; venation, close to 83A.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Five sepals fused to form a tubular            bilabiate calyx. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 7 mm.            Shape: Roughly lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture and luster, inner surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Texture and luster, outer surface: Scattered pubescence;            matte. Color: When developing, inner and outer surfaces:            Close to N92A. Fully developed, inner and outer surfaces:            Close to N92A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly erect to about 45° to 55°            from vertical. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent;            matte. Color: Close to N92A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: About 30° to 55° from            vertical. Texture and luster: Fine pubescence; matte. Color:            Close to N92A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Two.            Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: Close to 91B.            Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther size: About 1 mm by 4 mm.            Anther color: Close to 83A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 4.4 cm. Stigma shape: Bipartite. Stigma            color: Close to 86A. Style length: About 4 cm. Style color:            Close to 91A, 91B and 91C. Ovary color: Close to 157A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Salvia to date.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Salvia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Salvia    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Salvia have exhibited good    garden performance and to be tolerant to rain, wind, low    temperatures about 2° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone    10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Salvia plant named ‘BBSAL09001’ asillustrated and described.